Boston Cannons to Battle for Top Spot in Eastern Conference on Saturday
July 25, 2008 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Boston Cannons News Release
BOSTON, MA - Friday, July 25, 2008 - The Boston Cannons (6-3) of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) will travel to take on the Rochester Rattlers (6-3) in a clash for first place in the Eastern Conference at PAETEC Park in Rochester, New York, on Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 PM.
CANNONS VS. ROCHESTER IN 2008: In the first match-up of the season between the two teams, Rochester Rattler's attackman John Grant, Jr. (Delaware '99) collected six goals, one two-point goal and one assist to earn Bud Light MVP honors as the Boston Cannons were defeated by the Rattlers, by a score of 17-14, in front of 9,072 fans at Harvard Stadium on May 23. The two teams traded the lead throughout the majority of the game, with the Cannons holding the advantage until the Rattlers took off on a four-goal run at the start of the final quarter. Midfielder Matt Poskay (Virginia '06) stopped the charge with his second goal of the game at 9:40 and brought the game back to a 14-14 tie. The Rattlers then ended the game with three unanswered goals for the 17-14 win. Attackman Matt Alrich (Delaware '04) collected a career-high six goals in the contest for the Cannons. Cannons goalie Jake Coon (Nazareth '00) stopped 25 of 41 shots in the loss. Rattlers goalie Mike Levin (Brown '04) earned the win with 16 saves on the 30 shots he faced.
CANNONS' LAST GAME (JULY 19 AT WASHINGTON): Attackman Sean Morris (UMass '06) led the team with four goals to earn Bud Light MVP honors as the Boston Cannons collected their second consecutive victory, and fifth win in their last six games, by defeating the Washington Bayhawks, 14-10, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 19. After trailing early in the game by a score of 3-0, the Cannons stole the momentum, dug themselves out of the early deficit and didn't surrender the lead again in the contest. Midfielders Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins '08) and Matt Poskay (Virginia '06) each chipped in with three goals in the Cannons victory. Cannons goalie Kip Turner (Virginia '07) earned his sixth win of the season, and the MLL Goalkeeper of the Week honors, with 16 saves on the 26 shots he faced in the contest.
ROCHESTER'S LAST GAME (JULY 19 AT NEW JERSEY): In one of the closest games played in the MLL this season, the Rochester Rattlers beat the New Jersey Pride, 18-17, with one second remaining on the clock at Yurcak Field on July 19. Bud Light MVP attackman Jeff Zywicki (UMass '05) scored a career-high seven goals and tied a Rattlers record with five in the first half. Midfielder Joe Walters (Maryland '06) added five goals and two assists of his own and midfielder Alex Smith (Delaware '07) set a new team record with 27 faceoff wins on 37 attempts. None were to be out done by midfielder Gavin Prout (Loyola '01) who scored the game winning goal with one second left to play in the contest. The win was the Rattlers' first after two straight losses.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Midfielder Matt Poskay (Virginia '06) has already broken his previous season-highs for scoring, as he is currently tied for second in the league with 29 goals. His 29 goals are also ranked first on the Cannons, as are his 33 total points, through nine games...Goalie Kip Turner (Virginia '07), who is ranked first in the league with a 12.42 goals-against average heading into this weekend, earned MLL Goalkeeper of the Week honors after his 16 save effort to lead the Cannons to a 14-10 victory over Washington in his home town of Annapolis, Maryland, on July 19...Midfielder Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins '08) is ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 23 total points in just six games played, and since Rabil joined the team on June 7, the Cannons have posted a 5-1 record...The Cannons' sixth win of the season against Washington on July 19 gives them more wins through the first nine games than they collected during their entire 2007 campaign...The Cannons have allowed the least amount of goals by any MLL team so far this season, with just 114 goals against through nine games played...Heading into this weekend's action, the Cannons are tied with Rochester for first in the league with three shorthanded goals this season. In addition, both teams have only allowed one shorthanded goal this season.
CANNONS 2008 MLL ALL-STAR JERSEY AUCTION: Four Cannons players - midfielders Matt Poskay (Virginia '06), Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins '08), and Tom Zummo (NYIT '05) and defenseman Chris Passavia (Maryland '04) - were named to the 2008 MLL All-Star team, and represented the Eastern Conference at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on July 17. In addition, Cannons Head Coach Bill Daye coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars.
The jerseys that were worn by the All-Stars in this year's game are currently being auctioned on the MLL website, with all proceeds to benefit the 2010 Special Olympics National Games. The New Balance Foundation will match the amount raised by the auction. Bidding began immediately following Thursday night's All-Star contest, and will last until August 15: http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/fanzone/auctions/.
CANNONS ON TV: Saturday night's match-up between the Cannons and Rochester is scheduled to air live locally on both Comcast SportsNet New England and Cox in Rhode Island.
This season marks the first time in the organization's history that all 12 Cannons games will be televised in the New England area, and 11 of the 12 games will be aired live. Three networks - Comcast SportsNet New England, CN8 and ESPN2 - will combine to televise the games.
GAME NOTES: http://bostoncannons.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Game%20Notes/7-26-08%20at%20ROC%20-%20game%20notes.pdf
NB ZIP MLL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND: The Cannons are proud to host the 2008 NB Zip MLL Championship Weekend at Harvard Stadium on August 23 and 24, as the top four teams in the league battle for the coveted Steinfeld Trophy. This year will mark the third time that Boston has been the stage for the league's postseason showdown. The two semifinal games will be held on Saturday, August 23 at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, with the first game being aired live on ESPN2, followed by the championship game on Sunday, August 24 at 1:00 PM, also live on ESPN2. Tickets for both days of NB Zip MLL Championship Weekend are available now online at BOSTONCANNONS.COM or by calling the Cannons front office at (617) 746-9933.
The Cannons offer outstanding games and entertainment perfect for families, corporate outings and groups of friends. For more information, or to purchase Cannons tickets, visit BOSTONCANNONS.COM or call (617) 746-9933.
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